Tim Robbins: Hall of Fame violates freedom

US actor Tim Robbins has said that Baseball's Hall of Fame had violated his freedom of expression by scrapping a screening of one of his movies because he publicly criticised the US-led war in Iraq.

The actor and his Oscar-winning partner Susan Sarandon had been invited to attend the 15th anniversary screening of their 1988 baseball movie Bull Durham at the New York-based Hall of Fame later this month.

''I was dismayed that the Baseball Hall of Fame decided to use this event to make a political statement,'' Robbins, 44, said in a statement in which was supported by his pal and Bull Durham co-star Kevin Costner.

''It is using what power it has to infringe upon my rights of free speech with the hope to intimidate millions of others who disagree with our president,'' Robbins said in a stinging riposte.

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The Hall of Fame's move ''dishonours the words 'patriotism' and 'freedom' and disrespects the men and women who have fought wars to keep this nation a place where one can freely express their opinion without fear of reprisal or punishment,'' he said.

Robbins and Sarandon are among the most visible Hollywood stars to vocally oppose US President George W Bush's attack on Iraq at a time when media speculation is rife over whether high-profile anti-war activists will be punished by Hollywood for views that some Americans feel are unpatriotic.

The pair have led a clutch of US anti-war demonstrations and at last month's Oscar, both wore peace badges and flashed peace signs when arriving at the war-muted ceremony.

Robbins received a letter from the Hall of Fame's president, Dale Petroskey, who was on the White House staff during the presidency of Ronald Reagan, stating that his public views on the war represented a danger.

''Public figures have platforms much larger than the average American's, which provides you an extraordinary opportunity to have your views heard - and an equally large obligation to speak and act responsibly,'' he wrote.

''We believe your very public criticism of President Bush at this important - and sensitive - time in our nation's history helps undermine the US position, which could put our troops in even more danger.''

Costner came to the couple's defence saying that freedom of speech was one of the key democratic rights that America battled to ensure.

''I think Tim and Susan's courage is the type of courage that makes our democracy work,'' he said.

''Pulling back this invite is against the whole principle about what we fight for and profess to be about.''

The Baseball Hall of Fame tribute to Bull Durham had been scheduled for April 26 and 27 in Cooperstown, New York, and Robbins, Sarandon and the movie's director Ron Shelton were scheduled to speak at the event.

Shelton rallied to support arch-liberal Robbins, branding the Hall of Fame's move ''ridiculous''.

''Baseball is the great American game of language and dissent - and Bull Durham is merely a story that tries to connect us,'' he said in a statement.